Assessing emerging contaminants in soils using soil enzyme-based methods: A critical review

Abstract

Emerging contaminants (ECs) in soils pose significant threat to human health and the environment, prompting an urgent need for innovative assessment methods. Soil enzymes (SEs) can serve as sensitive indicators of soil quality and pollution due to their responsiveness to various contaminants. Analytical methods have highlighted the crucial role of SEs in assessing soil contamination for plant protection. This review aims to critically evaluate current SE-based methods used to assess ECs in soils. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in terms of complexity and analytical applicability, it highlights the most promising methods and SE-driven tools for EC assessment in soils. To enhance SE-proven methods, several innovative strategies have been suggested, ranging from sampling to analysis. These strategies include chemically modifying the products of SE-catalyzed reactions to enable the use of reliable analytical techniques such as fluorimetry and spectrophotometry, as well as utilizing biotechnology to enhance the activity of SEs in both EC assessment and in situ bioremediation. Finally, recommendations addressing existing gaps are presented, outlining future research directions for assessing ECs in soils and remediating EC-contaminated soils for food security.